The Lightest Truck Wheel on the Market?

Alcoa’s contribution to the 60th IAA show centred around the company’s first forged aluminium wide base 17×22.5 wheel. The wheel is designed to replace two conventional 9×22.5 drive axel wheels. According to the company, on a 4×2 truck without a spare wheel, changing from dual mounted steel to its single mounted aluminium wheel could save as much as 233.4 kg. This may be a little optimistic on the part of Alcoa as steel wheel and tyre weights vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the statement certainly makes interesting reading. Alcoa point out that in addition to the benefits of a 33kg wheel, the fact that it is forged rather than casted aluminium means it is stronger and contains no welding points, unlike its competitors.

Unfortunately for UK customers this product will not be available straight away, as issues of whether or not the product conflicts with British legislation are still being assessed.

At the IAA, the aluminium wheel producer was also promoting its new ALprotext liquid, a cleaning fluid designed to clean and preserve aluminium wheels, preventing discolouration.